The night nurse allowed us to stay until nearly eleven before kindly asking that we head out. We knew Ryder needed his rest and that we did as well before doing a drive home tomorrow and checking out, it was just so hard to leave his side.

"Let me run to the bathroom real quick and then I'll be back." I walked off the unit and down the hallway to where the restrooms were. It was extremely silent aside from a television playing some commercial for the time being and I couldn't help but shiver. No wonder people didn't like being in hospitals at night, it was an entirely different atmosphere.

Washing my hands, I looked in the mirror and felt relief knowing I looked at least half rested. Tomorrow would be a different story.

I slowed when I got back to the entrance of the unit as someone was trying to figure out how to contact the nursing staff to let them in. Surely they knew that visiting hours were way over.

"I'm sorry, but," I stopped when the man stood taller and looked at me. Patrick.

"Ah, just who I was hoping to see."

"You can't be here. And there's no way in hell I'm letting you in to get my baby."

"I don't need to see your son if I have you."

"I had a daughter," I lied and Patrick paused. There hadn't been anything posted for him to know what gender I had. He just knew somehow.

"Right." Stepping away from the door, he walked towards me. "Now we can either do this the easy way, or the hard way."

"There's security cameras everywhere. You wouldn't get far, and Hayden is waiting."

Patrick shifted his jacket to reveal a gun. Typical... "Let me repeat myself. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."

"You would openly shoot someone who just had a baby? The hell is wrong with you?" I was trying to find another entrance to back into or even the elevator before he tried to get to me, but Patrick kept taking steps too close.

"Only if you decide not to follow my instructions."

The door happened to open as I saw a nurse stick her head out and I gave her a panicked look.

"Can I help you two?"

"No, wer're," Patrick smiled brightly as I kept looking at her.

"Code pink, now."

Patrick just sighed and looked at me as he pulled his gun out. "You're really about to make my life fucking hell."

"Code pink! Now!" I screamed at the nurse before turning a corner and running.

The door slammed as I heard an alarm go off seconds later and shots ring out. I was ninety nine percent sure he was coming for me and not my son. But honestly I was not about to look back at the moment while trying to find another way in or a way to get out.

I hit every elevator button and tried the doors as I forgot the unit would've locked down nearby to prevent an abduction. Meaning I would need to find a hiding spot until security came...

"Dasha," Patrick's voice sounded sweetly as he rounded the corner while I ducked behind a help desk and stayed as quiet as possible. Grabbing my phone, I made sure it was silent while texting Hayden to remain in the NICU and to make security come to where I was.

'I'm coming to get you.'

'No. Stay with Ryder. Please.'

'I'm not letting his mom get shot.'

'Hayden Blaze, you protect our son. I'll get back to you. I love you.'

"Come on Dasha," Patrick's voice sounded as he went into the bathroom first. "Don't make me start shooting again. Just come out and we can resolve this."

The alarm was still blaring as I desperately counted for security to hurry the hell up to the floor. Why was this my life right now.

I heard the doors open as the sound of boots began coming around the corner and screamed when I saw Patrick's shoes right beside my desk. Bending down like the sociopath he was, he grabbed my hair and pulled me from under the desk.

"Stand up bitch."

"Put your gun down now!" Five officers were standing a few feet away while Patrick had his hand tight on my hair with me kneeling in front.

"Please," I sobbed and tried to control my breathing. "I just want to see my baby and leave."

"Shut up," Patrick pushed me down as the officers drew their guns. I felt blood enter my mouth and closed my eyes.

"Dasha," I heard Hayden's voice coming from behind the officers. "Patrick, leave my wife alone. Now." His voice was dead of emotion and I felt a shiver run through me, this was probably how he was the first time when he came to get me.

"Sir, step away from the woman and put your hands in the air. Now. Drop your gun."

"None of you are listening." Patrick just sighed and I felt the barrel go against my back. "I'm leaving with her, or she's dead."

"Put the gun down now!"

"Patrick, listen to me," I spat the blood in my mouth onto the floor. "This is going to go one of two ways and either way you are not getting out of here free. Now you can either let me stand up and let me walk over to the officers, or you let me stand up and kill me while you watch."

"Dasha,"

"Hayden." I spoke louder as everyone got quiet. I raised my head and looked Patrick dead in the eyes. "If you're going to kill me, then you better accept the fact that you'll be the last to watch the light leave my eyes. And know that you just made a newborn lose their mother. Now if you're prepared to do that," I braced myself before standing up slowly and took a shaky breath. "Then do it."

He frowned and I swore tears were trying to come from his eyes. "I love you. I just want you to see that."

"Then respect the fact that you're putting me in danger and let me be with my baby. Please." I held my breath and took a step backwards while Patrick just looked torn. What had happened to him?

He dropped the gun and held his hands up while the officers surrounded him as Hayden came running over and pulled me against him. I couldn't tear my gaze away from Patrick's until he was led away to the elevator.

"Dasha Blaze, look at me." Hayden lifted my chin up as I blinked back tears and felt a lump raise in my throat.

"I... I just wanted to protect Ryder."

"Don't you ever do that again," he held me tightly and kissed my forehead. "I can't lose you. Ryder can't lose you."

Moments later a nurse came with a wheelchair to take me down to get examined in the ED. A post partum nurse followed us down to help with any assessments while Hayden remained right by my side. The police took my statement after they were done and a doctor came in to talk with us.

"Well Mrs. Blaze, it looks like you've been through quite a lot. Thankfully you're stable and we can expect to send you home tomorrow with your son as long as that's still the plan. We recommend you follow up with your primary care and OB shortly after this stay."

"Thank you," Hayden told him while I laid back down and tried to wrap my head around everything that had just happened. Was it completely stupid? Absolutely. But somehow it worked and Ryder was safe.

"Dasha."

I knew nothing I could say at that moment was going to make anything better. "Come here."

He laid down next to me and stroked my hair. "I love you. Promise me you won't do anything like that again."

"I won't," I sighed and rested against his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not mad baby," Hayden held me tighter. "I just... you have no idea what you mean to me and now that we're parents... I love you that much more for bringing Ryder into the world. I nearly lost you once." He went silent while I tried to think of what to say to him. He was right.

The clock read past one. Hayden stroked my hair gently, "let's get some rest sweetheart."

"Ryder's okay right?"

"Ryder is okay. He was kicking when I left and the nurse promised to call if anything changed. We'll have plenty of time to fuss over him when we get home."

"Just one more strap... There." I finished buckling Ryder into his car seat while Hayden waited for me to get into the front.

"We'll be pros after a few hundred times."

"I did not pay attention whenever they covered this," I admitted as Hayden pulled onto the street. "I'm so glad we're going home."

"Me too baby," Hayden squeezed my hand before placing it back on the wheel. "Our little family is complete."

**I know this took forever. This is NOT the last chapter. Probably one more and then an epilogue. There will at some point be a third book, but it's time to focus on some other stories first.

Surprised about Patrick or not really?**